Steam curled like misty ribbons above the hot spring as the moment of affection faded into a comfortable quiet.
Skadi was happily swimming from one end of the spring to the other, her silvery bracelet glinting as she splashed about like a carefree dolphin, humming a little tune as her tail stirred the waters.
Meanwhile, Aisha and Julie had taken up residence at either side of Cassius, each of them leaning peacefully into the curve of his arms as if they'd always belonged there.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Peaceful.
But then, Aisha's eyes opened.
And narrowed.
She leaned forward slightly and looked at Cassius from the side, suspicion radiating off her as if she'd just solved a puzzle that had been bothering her all day. "…Hey, Cassius."
"Hm?"
"You're the one who threw the dead body into the village earlier, weren't you?"
Cassius blinked. Then slowly turned his head toward her, the faintest curve of a smile touching his lips.
